Sights in Mae Hong Son Province
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Salawin National Park
This national park covers 722 sq km of protected land in Mae Sariang and Sop Moei districts. The park is heavily forested in teak, Asian redwood and cherrywood, and is home to the second-largest teak tree in Thailand. There are numerous hiking trails, and it’s also possible to travel by boat along the Mae Nam Salawin to the park’s outstation at Tha Ta Fang. The main headquarters are 6km from Mae Sariang and have bungalow-style accommodation (300B to 1200B), which can be booked via the Royal Forest Department (Tel: 0 2562 0760; www.dnp .go.th).
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Tham Pla Forest Park
This provincial park, 16km north of Mae Hong Son, is centred around Tham Pla, or Fish Cave, a water-filled cavern where hundreds of soro brook carp thrive. The fish grow up to 1m long and are found only in the provinces of Mae Hong Son, Ranong, Chiang Mai, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Kanchanaburi. The fish eat vegetables and insects, although the locals believe them to be vegetarian and feed them only fruit and vegetables, which can be purchased at the park entrance.
A 450m path leads from the park entrance to a suspension bridge that crosses a stream and continues to the cave. A statue of a Hindu rishi called Nara, said to protect the holy fish from danger, stands nearby. It'…
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Thai-Japan Friendship Memorial Hall
At the northern end of town, a collection of rusted military trucks marks the Thai-Japan Friendship Memorial Hall. Here weapons, military equipment, personal possessions and fascinating black-and-white photographs document the period when the Japanese occupied Khun Yuam in the closing weeks of the war with Burma. After they had recovered, some of the Japanese soldiers stayed in Khun Yuam and married. The last Japanese soldier who settled in the area died in 2000.
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Tha Pai Hot Springs
Across the Mae Nam Pai and 7km southeast of town via a paved road is the springs, a well-kept local park 1km from the road. A scenic stream flows through the park; the stream mixes with the hot springs in places to make pleasant bathing areas. The water is also diverted to a couple of nearby spas.
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Wat Jong Klang Museum
This Museum in Wat Jong Klang, houses 150-year-old wooden dolls from Mandalay that depict some of the more gruesome aspects of the wheel of life. Wat Jong Klang has several areas that women are forbidden to enter – not unusual for Burmese-Shan Buddhist temples.
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Wat Hua Wiang
This wát, east of Th Khunlum Praphat, is recognised for its bòht boasting an elaborate tiered wooden roof and a revered bronze Buddha statue from Mandalay.
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Wat Phra That Mae Yen
This temple sits atop a hill and has good views overlooking the valley. Walk 1km east from the main intersection in town, across a stream and through a village, to get to the stairs (353 steps) that lead to the top. Or take the 400m sealed road that follows a different route to the top.
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Wat Nam Hoo
Wat Nam Hoo is about 2km from Pai and houses a sacred Buddha image said to have once emitted holy water from its head. The place is popular with visiting Thais and there's a small market on the grounds.
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Wat Jong Sung & Wat Si Bunruang
Two adjacent Burmese-Shan temples, Wat Jong Sung and Wat Si Bunruang, just off Mae Sariang's main street, are definitely worth a visit if you have time. Built in 1896, Wat Jong Sung is the more interesting of the two temples and has slender, Shan-style chedi and wooden monastic buildings.
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Wat Jong Kham & Wat Jong Klang
Wat Jong Kham was built nearly 200 years ago by Thai Yai (Shan) people, who make up about half of the population of Mae Hong Son Province. Wat Jong Klang houses 100-year-old glass jataka paintings and a museum with 150-year-old wooden dolls from Mandalay that depict some of the more gruesome aspects of the wheel of life. Wat Jong Klang has several areas that women are forbidden to enter – not unusual for Burmese-Shan Buddhist temples.
The temples are lit at night and reflected in Nong Jong Kham – a popular photo op for visitors.
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Pai Canyon
Located 8km from Pai along the road to Chiang Mai, a paved stairway here culminates in an elevated lookout over high rock cliffs and the Pai valley. The latter can be followed by a dirt trail, but lacking shade, is best tackled in the morning or afternoon.
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Other Temples
Other notable temples include Wat Kam Kor, known for its unique covered walkway, and Wat Phra Non home to the largest reclining Buddha in town.
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Memorial Bridge
It may look like an antiquated bridge to us, but to thousands of Thai tourists who stop here during the tourist season, it's one of several crucial photo ops along the '762 curves' to Pai. Located 9km from Pai, the bridge was originally built by Japanese soldiers during WWII. Other crucial Pai-themed photo ops include the huge sign at Coffee in Love, about 3km south of Pai, and the cutesy shops selling T-shirts along Th Chaisongkhram.
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Ban Santichon
About 4km outside of Pai, a small market, delicious Yunnanese food, tea tasting, pony rides and Yunnanese adobe-style accommodation (08 1024 3982; bungalows 1000-1500B) make the KMT village of Ban Santichon not unlike a Chinese-themed amusement park.
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